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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Jeremiah 40

There is much of historical and political history here concerning dispersal of Judeans and fraternal warfare as well. The many names are largely unknown to me, but there they are and one could consult a good commentary to find out more.

The overture from Nebuzaradan to Jeremiah is curious. Is this overlord of the executioners a secret admirer of the prophet? He almost seems to speak Jeremiah's language, but I will have to wait to see if more is revealed. Based on the rough number of occurrences, I doubt we will hear any more of him. A derivative of נשא, lift up, is used for the idea of gift, a donation, or handout, or special interest gift from N to J. I have used ration card and care package somewhat anachronistically, remembering the treatment of citizens after the second war in the last century.

The word that happened to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after Nebuzaradan, the overlord of the slaughterers, set him loose from Ramah,
when he took him and he was bound in chains, in the midst of all the exiled of Jerusalem and Judah, the exiles going toward Babel.

And now behold, I open you today from the chains that are on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babel, come, and I will set my eyes over you, or if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Babel, refrain.
See, all the earth is before you, to what is good or to what is upright in your eyes, for you to walk there.

And while he had not turned, ... Or turn to Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, child of Shaphan, to whom the king of Babel has entrusted the cities of Judah, and settle with him in the midst of the people, or to anywhere that is upright in your eyes for you to walk.
And to him, the overlord of the slaughterers gave a ration card, and a care package, and set him loose.

When all the chiefs of the forces who were in the field, they and their soldiers, heard that the king of Babel had entrusted Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, in the land,
and that he had entrusted him with men and women and little ones, and from the weak of the land, from those not exiled toward Babel,

Then they came to Gedoliah, to Mizpah,
both Yishmaeil, child of Nathaniah, and Jochanan and Yonathan, the children of Qareiach, and Saraiah, child of Tanhumeth, and the children of Ephai ,the Netophatite, Yezeniah, child of the Maakatite, they and their soldiers.

And to them Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, child of Shaphan, and to their soldiers, swore to say, Do not fear service to the Chaldeans.
Settle in the land, and serve the king of Babel, and it will be good for you.

As for me, note me well. I will settle in Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans that will come to us,
but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put in your vessels, and settle in your cities that you have occupied.

And even all the Judeans that were in Moab, and among the children of Amon, and in Edom, and wherever in all the lands, heard that the king of Babel had permitted a residue of Judah,
and that he had entrusted over them Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, child of Shaphan,

Jochanan, child of Qareiach, said to Gedoliah in secret in Mizpah, saying, Let me go, please, and I will strike Yishmaeil, child of Nathaniah, and no-one will know.
Why should he strike you and smash all Judah who are collected to you, and the residue of Judah perish.